Can They Handle It?

Orlando Magic Media Day

Carter fuels new slogan, new focus

A club that will resemble a traveling all-star show now with Vince Carter on board already has heard the team slogan for this season -- and it embraces no egos:

Grab A Handle.

That's Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith's catch-phrase.

And it's no coincidence the slogan came about with the arrival of Carter, who has more all-star nominations (eight) than Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson combined.

"We're not asking any one guy to carry any part of the whole load. We're asking everybody to grab a handle," Smith said. "Just grab a handle. Because trying to win a title is a grind."

The Magic, who open training camp today at RDV Sportsplex, had their surprising title-run stopped in the Finals in June by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Orlando replaced fan favorite Hedo Turkoglu with Carter in hopes he can return to his adoptive hometown -- he grew up in Daytona Beach -- and lead a championship parade down Orange Avenue.

While Coach Stan Van Gundy wants to see the Vince Carter who has torched defenses night-in and night-out, Smith has reminded Carter of the cautionary tale involving Rashard Lewis.

The pressure to impress bothered Lewis early in his first season after the Magic signed him two years ago.

"Guys come in and think the weight of the world is on their shoulders, expected to do so much," Smith said. "Vince is coming in from New Jersey and coming back home. Rashard went through it a few years ago. We have Dwight and all the buildup.

"If you just do your part, we'll be fine as a team."

Carter, 32, was looking relaxed and playful as the club gathered for Monday's media day.

"There's nobody in this world that can put pressure on me," said Carter, who, along with forward Ryan Anderson, was acquired from the New Jersey Nets for Courtney Lee, Tony Battie and Rafer Alston.

"My job is to get ready to be the player they thought they were getting."

He wore No. 15 -- Turkoglu's old number. It will be a constant reminder of the change as long as Carter is in uniform here. He not only inherits Turkoglu's number, but Turkoglu's role as fourth-quarter go-to guy.

Van Gundy eased Carter's mind by telling him to forget trying to fit in. "He can do that in the locker room," Van Gundy said. "I want the guy who has killed me all these years. I want all his greatness."

Van Gundy has already tweaked the playbook, adding some pet plays that the Toronto Raptors and New Jersey ran for Carter as their shooting guard.

With a career average of 23.5 points per game, Carter is the least of Van Gundy's concerns as he tries to put together a puzzle and rebuild chemistry. This summer the club brought in five new players (Carter, Anderson, Brandon Bass, Matt Barnes and Jason Williams).

Carter will start at shooting guard, Nelson at point guard and Howard at center. Then it gets murky.

Lewis has played power forward his first two seasons but will likely return to his natural small-forward position (Turkoglu's old spot). Bass, a free agent from the Dallas Mavericks, would probably start at power forward unless he doesn't impress Van Gundy during the preseason.

Van Gundy concedes he is "struggling" with how to prepare for Lewis' absence because of a 10-game suspension to start the season. He said he'll experiment with some different lineups in preseason games, given Orlando's versatility with wing players Mickael Pietrus and Barnes.

One thing Van Gundy knows for sure as the Magic make adjustments to contend again: Carter provides comfort. He'll grab a handle.

"I've never been afraid to of taking the big shot or afraid of making the big pass to get the big shot," Carter said. "I'm just going to be me."